Ketotifen ophthalmic and Stinging: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• May 7, 2008

Ketotifen ophthalmic for Conjunctivitis, Allergic "Very helpful. I am mostly allergic to tree pollen (oak, birch). Stings a bit and causes lots of tears after application, but it goes away within minutes. Took a day or so to become really effective - I started at the peak of the allergy season. I feel like a new person!"

• Kel...
• March 4, 2018

Ketotifen ophthalmic for Conjunctivitis, Allergic "I had continuous allergic conjunctivitis. I thought it was mascara... kept switching brands and types of mascara. After a year of three-month intervals of conjunctivitis... went to the eye doctor, gave me Pazeo (olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 0.2%). He said I just started having bad reactions to the contacts themselves rubbing up against my eyelids. That Pazeo, that stuff worked instantly, didn't wake up with crusty or swollen eyes. He told me after the Pazeo drops continue with 2x day Zaditor drops. OMG, they were awful. As soon as they went in, my eyes were burning. The intense burning sensation did subside after 5 min, but it was awful burning. At 30 min, still stinging. I had a scratchy feeling in my eyeballs (they were totally dried out) the rest of the day. I had an awful taste in my mouth also. Tried it again in the evening. Same thing. Next morning, I woke up, and my eyes were really puffy, like above my eyes I had the puffy upper eyelids setting over my eyeball."

• nom...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 10, 2023

For Conjunctivitis, Allergic "Great stuff. Makes my eyes feel less like itchy, dry, flaming spheres. I used to rub my eyes constantly, which only made it worse. It takes around 5–10 minutes to kick in. I've noticed that if the inflammation is really bad prior to application, sometimes ketotifen stings for 30–90 seconds, but it clears up after that and it's worth it. (If the inflammation is milder, it doesn't really sting.) There can also be a bit of a learning curve (e.g., aiming) if you've never used eye drops before."

• Wor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 23, 2022

For Conjunctivitis, Allergic "I have terrible allergies to pretty much everything, and although I used to get allergy shots, which got rid of a lot of the systemic effects of my allergies, my eyes still get very irritated. I always thought it was from rubbing them a lot (it probably is) because when I rub them, whatever is on my hands/eyelids gets into my eyes and makes it worse. It got to the point where I went to an ophthalmologist who suggested several different types of eye drops to see which one works: ketotifen was one of them. As soon as I tried them, my eyes got better almost immediately. Now, whenever my eyes get that same irritation, especially if I can't help but rub them? I use some ketotifen eye drops and it clears up the irritation/pain nearly instantly. The drops can sting a bit when it first goes in, but within minutes my eye(s) are no longer irritated and no longer rub/scratch them. If you're having problems with irritated eyes and rub them a lot, try these, they can work well (and do for me)."

• der...
• June 15, 2018

Ketotifen ophthalmic for Conjunctivitis, Allergic "Works when my eyes aren't too bad, but when my lids are swollen, it stings and doesn't work. I got Bepreve instead, and that helps without stinging."